USS Alaska and USS Guam: The Unused Alaska-Class Cruisers of WWII
The USS Alaska and USS Guam, two Alaska-class cruisers, were built for $45.6 million each but never engaged enemy warships in battle. Their design aimed to counter a perceived Japanese super-cruiser threat that ultimately did not materialize, leading to questions about their operational cost-effectiveness.
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The USS Alaska and USS Guam, part of the Alaska-class cruisers, were commissioned in 1944 but never engaged in main-battery fire against enemy ships, despite their substantial armament of 111 gun barrels. Each cruiser displaced 35,264 tons and was designed to counter advanced Japanese cruisers that were never constructed.
The Navy ordered six vessels in 1940, but wartime priorities led to the cancellation of four ships and significant delays. Although they participated in operations supporting carrier groups, their high cost compared to traditional cruisers raised concerns about their utility, especially as naval warfare evolved. Both were decommissioned in 1947 after limited service, and scrapping began in the late 1950s, marking the end of an ambitious but ultimately underutilized design.
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